Curvy Women

Truth! Even for brunettes & redheads!

Thanks BDT for posting this so I could share it here.

Have a wicked Wednesday, y'all!

~Whoosh

Word Problems

I saw this on Hyphen's Facebook page and HAD to share it with THE WORLD. 

Jackie + Math = Tiredhead

It's Six!

My lil blog turns six years old today.

I went on an internet adventure to find some "Wonder" and some "Whoosh".  The "Whoosh" turned out to be pretty easy.  The "Wonder", however, notsoeasy.  I found:

• Wonder Wheel
• Stevie Wonder
• Wonder Bread
• Wonder Woman (duh!)
• Wonder Pets

 And the more obscure, lesser-known "Wonders", such as:

• Wonder Ballroom
• Wonder Girls (huh?)
• Wonder Boy (Wait, what?!)
• Wonder Showzin (weird)
• Wonder Project
• Ginger Wonder (Trickin' it up!)
• Wonder Sauna Hot Pants (Yeah. It's a real thing. Google it!)

I think it's fair to say I am an original. :)

~Whoosh!

P.S. Any of you graphics web designer folks wanna donate a WonderWhoosh blog header, LMK!

99 Problems: LUCCA!

This heart Tony Lucca. So hard!

If you watched the show last night, you probably heard Xtina say she thought it was a good song, but it's derogatory toward women (because of "bitch").  Thank you to ADAM who enlightened all of us with an alternate interpretation:  bitch is a metaphor for anything that gets in your way, whatever brings you down or causes you problems.  What better way to break a stereotype than outsidetheboxthinking? Thank you, Adam!

The Voice Final Four: I'm On Team LUCCA

I'm completely in love with this show.  Funny thing is, I started watching it so that it could be a "family activity", especially one that didn't really cost any money, and we could do at home. My Husband and Girls watched American Idol together, and I think last season's The Voice, too. I was either studying, typing on the computer or smartphone, or doing some other sort of I-can't-sit-still-that-long busy-ness.  I've tried harder over the last year to sit on the sofa per request of My Husband.  He says quality time, partly, is sharing TV time together. And because My Family has very little time to spend together due to busy lives, I figured I'd give this a try.  As it turns out, I'm pretty much the only one watching it now.  My Husband goes off to work on other things sometimes, and My Girls read, paint fingernails, shower, do homework, play or a litany of other things.  They'll occasionally dance or sing along, but mostly it's background noise to them anymore.  They don't seem as excited as me about it, which is totally fine, but I do find it a bit ironic.  I sometimes pull the Mom Guilt Card and make them watch it with me.  Now that Stanley Cup playoff hockey is on, and we have only one television in our house, we do a lot of channel switching during commercials. It's quite a merry-go-round that I just have to laugh at.

So, the Final Four:

Chris Mann , the opera singer on Team Xtina (who is quite a badass I might add!), sang a velvety, moving "Ave Maria". 

Jermaine Paul who has been a back-up singer for Alicia Keys (and is quite sexy!) representing Team Blake. He sang "Open Arms", but I didn't get to see this performance because I was applying vinegar to the back and shoulders of a verysosunburned Boa. I think he over-sings some, but he IS very good!

Juliet Sims representing Team CeeLo is reminscient of Janice Joplin. There's a je ne sais quoi about her that I dislike, but I think she's going to win it all.  The chick rocks like Steven Tyler and that genre/generation. So good.

Last but not least, Tony Lucca representing Team Adam (he's a former Mouseketeer with Xtina and Britney, BTW).  Yep, I'm riding that LUCCAmotive, baby! His cover of Brittney Spears' "Baby One More Time" was awesomesauce!  And the "How You Like Me Now" was superfun to watch!

 In a previous post, I mentioned Matthai. She was let go but I do think she has a promising career.  I think her song choices were poor toward the end.  I haven't asked my co-worker how Matthai is doing since leaving the show, but I'll bring it up soon.

And finally, a commentary about Dia Frampton, who won last year's competition returned to sing. Again, I didn't see the last season, so I have no idea what level of talent she was competing against, but I have to say she didn't impress me AT ALL!  HOW did she ever win??

Who do YOU think will win?

Don't Make A Fool Of Me, Woman!

Thanks, Ceelo "Smooth Operator" Green.  Thanks for representing all men in a very universal way. (He speaks these words at the end of the "Satisfaction" video below.)

This is the second season of The Voice, yet I had it in my mind it was a first-year show, especially considering all the publicity it was pushing and getting prior to debut.  I was BEAT! DOWN! by all the commercials for this show, especially during my favorite time of year: Super Bowl. 

I particularly thought Ceelo was being over-marketed, and, while I love Xtina's voice (and oy! That cleavage!), I think she's a little trashy.  I didn't know Blake's music (I do now! Sidebar: I learned he's the singer of "Ol' Red", a *great* song!), but I knew enough to know he's made a name for himself in the Country (*and* Western) music genre.  Then there's Adam.

*swoon*

Oh Adam.

MydeliciousnextgenerationSimonLeBonlickablesoverymetrosexuallydesirableAdam. Come unto me.

Adam is the initial reason I decided to watch the show. That, and my kids wanted me to watch with them. They win. I win. Win-win.

Now, the SHOW is the reason I watch the show!!

I! LOVE! THIS! SHOW!  

If you're a music fan and don't watch or otherwise know about this show, watch THIS weirdness.  In the paraphrased words of the overmarketedCeelo: It's wonderfully strange, bizarre, genius.....

Aside from the Adam Factor, the talent competition being judged purely on the sound of the voice (initially, the judges have their backs to the singer, therefore are at the mercy of only a voice), and not the look, is refreshing. For a society that lives and breathes vanity, it's uplifting to see "regular", "everyday" people get a shot in an industry that's geared toward "the beautiful people" as defined by some giant machine in Hollywood. Yep. I like this format.  I like this a lotlot.

Also I like the idea of the battle rounds. For an older-ish (shh) person like me, and a particularly non-competitive soul, I fancy getting rid of one person per battle instead of the American Idol format.  It's less tense.  I'm impatient, too. This format satiates me instantly.  I might not always agree with the choices, but at least the kill was fast, and we can all just move on accordingly.

I think the judges panel feedback at the end of the battle song is a little cheesy, and this is where I think Adam is weaker than the rest (unless you count Blake's penchant for scantily clad women).  Adam's participating in the process but he seems uneasy or uncertain about what he should say so he speaks with an awkward affect. How many times can a person say "that was weird"? Adam offers at least four, without ever offering another word besides "weird".  Note to Adam: take a page from Ceelo's book, study it and apply generously.

As for the contestant watch, I like the roller coaster ride: the rejection and the adulation, played out all in one segment. Additionally, like any good show, the human element is at play - the story behind the voice.  All body shapes are represented. Various walks of of life are showcased: older, younger, skinny, fat, sultry, plain, grieving, in-recovery, and various socio-economic cross-sections of our society. It makes one realize how exceptionally talented people are, and these people are all around us. Hell, these people ARE us!

Too, endearing are the contestants who are so modest, humble, unsure. It will be interesting to see an evolution.

Related tangent: Remember how I just said the reason I watch the show is the show, and that I decided to give it a whirl during the Super Bowl Beat Down?  Well, an unexpected alternate reason befell me:  Mathai.

I was first introduced to Mathai's music via a co-worker who is very close to Mathai; in fact, she refers to her as her "little sister". I viewed a couple videos of the two of them singing together at their church -- so lovely! So, naturally, when I was told Mathai was going to be on The Voice, my interest grew more.

I would consider Mathai atypical, based purely on her race, as the Middle Eastern culture is not exactly represented in American Pop music. Watching her, it's clear she's "Americanized", and breaking the traditions of her family and culture to a certain degree. She is the daughter of professional parents who are in the medical field; they expected her to pursue medicine. Instead, she's pursuing The Dream. Her voice *is* unique, and I'm certain she'll be making a name for herself past this show (as confirmed by Blake's sugary, Southern-accented claim at 1:38 in the video.)

There ya have it -- my two cents about The Voice.

My only lingering question is: When is the reality show about SMARTS going to be created and aired? We need something that would feature a different set of values along the lines of the next great brain, scientist, and the like. It's about time The Culture Machine starts "glamorizing" some OTHER kinds of creative talent.

Migas Make Mama J Happy

My Mother and I have been, on a fairly regular basis, going out to breakfast together on Saturday mornings.

We've found a folksy, quaint local place that's turned into a favorite of hers (I kinda crush on it too. And by "local", I mean notanationalchainrestaurant.).

Today, she ordered corned beef and hash -- a food I've never tried, nor have I been interested in trying.  She excitedly handed the menu to the waitress and said to me, "I haven't had that since I was a KID!"

After taking a couple bites, she offers me a bite, too, leaving a small clump of it on my plate (that was perfectly dressed in Migas, btw). 

Two or three years ago, I decided I'd be more open to trying foods to broaden my palate (and apparently it's broadening my hips, too! Fail.).  So, I poke my fork in this dog-food-look-alike. As it approaches my mouth, I smell it and guess what? It smells like dog food!  I take a breath and resolve to remain open-minded.

First impression: this must be what dog food tastes like! GROSS!

Briny. Grainy. Strong.

Not a fan.

And neither was Mom.

More power to you if you like this stuff. Feel free to have my share.

Snuggles, Sprinkles, Snuggles, Silver, Salon, Sparklers ~ SIX!

Six o'clock hour, she sought snuggling.

Six years ago today, she sought snuggling.

+

My Little One is six today.  Some of today's birthday-stuff:

*  Pink roses and purple tulips

*  Birthday doughnuts, a birthday tradition, with trick sparkler candles, served on the "you are special today" red plate

*  Red dress with zebra print

*  We pulled out the first pair of earrings, and replaced them with tiny silver hoops.  #tightkisses

*  "The Lorax" was the movie of choice whilst stretching mozzarella cheese sticks between her teeth and fingertips.

*  A two hour nap

* Salon hugs

*  Dancing with a penguin

* Staying up waaaayyyyy toooooooo late

+

I love her. <3

You Wanna Know?

He's wanting to know.... *heart pitter patter*

Goodness, I'm smitten!

Wednesday Sky





thin clouds, half moon

middle of the day

tender grass, i lay

hair spread

eyes aimed high

i exhale, long sigh

lids close, seeing dreams

hearing chirps, children laugh

soul bathing, sun bath

teasing breeze, breath taken

buried deep, death whispers

ground bound, helpless drifter

i'm small, i'm afloat

too big, too often

freedom opens, in blossom

complete surrender,

passers by suspect i've escaped

the jacket that keeps me straight

i am